(8/19/2016 – ATLANTA, GA) The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA) today called on Dekalb County law enforcement to investigate a possible bias motive for an Aug. 17th attack on an Islamic charity in Stone Mountain. CAIR-GA also called on law enforcement to increase police patrols near the charity as well as near Muslim houses of worship in the area.
Sometime during the evening of Aug. 17th, an unknown number of attackers shattered the glass entry door to the Stone Mountain office of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), an American Muslim charity that serves thousands of Georgians of all faiths every year.
The vandals then entered the office, broke into the food pantry for the poor, and scattered halal meat and other food across the floor without stealing any items.
Halal meat, like kosher meat for observant Jews, is specially prepared meat that is permissible for Muslims to eat. The vandals also left computers, printers and other items of value untouched.
“The cowards who attacked a charity in the middle of the night should know that they cannot deter Georgia Muslims from living our lives,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, executive director of CAIR-GA. “God willing, we will keep praying five times a day, visiting our houses of worship, and donating to Georgians in need. We fear God, not vandals.”
Mitchell added, “We call on law enforcement to investigate this cowardly attack on a charity as a potential act of bigotry. “Local authorities should also consider increasing patrols near the charity as well as Muslim houses of worship in the area.